Helleborus plant named &#39;epb 29&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘EPB 29’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit; relatively large light purple-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane on relatively long peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus×hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘EPB 29’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus×hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘EPB 29’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Devon, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-flowering Helleborus plants with strong peduncles that hold numerous attractive flowers above the foliar plane.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventors in Devon, United Kingdom on Jan. 28, 2008 of a proprietary seedling selection of Helleborus×hybridusidentified as code designation EPP442, as the female, or seed, parent, not patented, with a proprietary seedling selection of Helleborus×hybridus identified as code designation 2674-06FB, as the male, or pollen, parent, not patented. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Devon, United Kingdom on Feb. 25, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by tissue culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands since Apr. 10, 2013, has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype of the new Helleborus plant may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype of the new Helleborus plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘EPB 29’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘EPB 29’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit.     -   3. Relatively large light purple-colored flowers that are held         above the foliar plane on relatively long peduncles.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are shorter than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have whitish green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are shorter than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus×hybridus ‘ABCRD02’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,720. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Devon, United Kingdom, plants of the new Helleborus differed from plants of ‘ABCRD02’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus were shorter than plants of         ‘ABCRD01’.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus had smaller leaves than plants         of ‘ABCRD01’.     -   3. Plants of the new Helleborus flowered about one month later         than plants of ‘ABCRD01’.     -   4. Plants of the new Helleborus were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘ABCRD01’.     -   5. Plants of the new Helleborus and ‘ABCRD01’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘ABCRD01 ’ had darker purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘EPB 29’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower bud and flower of ‘EPB 29’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in three-liter containers in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 0° C. to 10° C. and night temperatures ranged from −15° C. to 0° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus hybridus ‘EPB 29’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Helleborus×hybridus identified as code designation EPP442,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Helleborus×hybridus identified as code designation             2674-06FB, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, vigorous; typically white to brown             in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             mounding plant habit with flowers held above the foliar             plane; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Stems.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Shiny. Color: Close to 146B with             spots, close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged alternately in a basal rosette;             leaves palmately compound with three to five leaflets per             leaf.         -   Leaflet length.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 7 cm to 12 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate to lanceolate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Acute.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Leaflet luster, upper surface.—Shiny.         -   Leaflet luster, lower surface.—Somewhat shiny.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             137A; central spots, close to 186C. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137C slightly overlain with close to 187A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; central             spots, close to 139D; venation, close to 139C, proximally,             close to 187A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147A; venation, close to 137B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 10 cm to 20 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm             to 7 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, developing leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A; spots, close to N186C. Color, fully             expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A;             spots, close to N199A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in             loosely branched cymes; freely flowering habit with             typically about 15 to 20 flowers developing per cyme and up             to 40 flowers developing per cyme in the second year of             growth; flowers facing outwardly and somewhat drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about two             months after planting; plants flower from January until             March in the United Kingdom.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three months;             flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 30 cm to 40 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1             cm to 2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Ground color, close to             146D; towards the margins, overlain with close to N79A;             mid-section, overlain with close to 186C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm to 4 cm.         -   Petals.—None observed; transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm to             4.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to obovate. Apex: Obtuse and             occasionally emarginate. Base: Rounded. Margin: Mostly             entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the margins, close             to N77B; center, close to 186C; towards the base, close to             145A; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Towards the margins, close             to N77B; center, close to 186C; towards the base, close to             146C; color does not change with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About 5             mm to 10 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B; spots,             close to 187A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Aspect: About 10° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A;             spots, close to 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 60.             Filament length: About 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm. Filament color:             Close to 155D. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About             2 mm. Anther color: Close to 4B. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 4B. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             About five. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 4D. Style length: About             1.5 cm. Style color: Close to N77B. Ovary color: Close to             145A.         -   Nectaries.—Quantity per flower: About 10 to 15. Length:             About 5 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape:             Funnelform. Color: Close to N144C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Helleborus have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘EPB 29’ as illustrated and described. 